Championing Young Talent at W Exhibition
The W Exhibition is the UK’s leading show for the joinery and furniture industries. Taking place every two years, it is an opportunity for the whole industry to come together at the NEC, Birmingham to network, watch live demonstrations of woodworking machinery and see all of the latest products and developments.
The woodworking industry is big business and has an estimated worth of £3.8 billion in the UK alone. With figures from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) suggesting an annual requirement of more than 3,000 new positions needing to be filled every year to support the sector’s continual growth, the need for fresh new talent has never been more fundamental to the success of the industry. But, when faced with a challenging new apprenticeship levy, common misconceptions of the industry and strict health and safety legislation restricting work experience, how do businesses attract and retain young talent?
Boasting its biggest footprint to date, visitors to the biennial event will be the first to see the latest product launches, technological advancements and innovations to enter the UK market, whilst also being able to talk to the experts first hand and watch machinery and tooling demonstrations throughout the show. Big names will be returning to the show this September, with leading machinery companies like Biesse, SCM, Homag, Weinig, Felder, Schelling, Daltons Wadkin, AMS, RW Machines and TM Machinery among a solid exhibitor line-up. The W Exhibition will also welcome a host of new exhibitors in 2018 including CNC specialists CNC Software. The exhibition will also feature a host of interactive features for visitors including a brand new Education Zone. Run by industry bodies, it will provide support and advice on legislation, health & safety, productivity, careers and apprenticeships within the furniture industry, whilst promoting the importance of young talent in the industry.
This year, the W Exhibition and sister show, Elements, are continuing their pledge to help champion the industry’s future and promote new talent. Lisa Campagnola, Event Director for the W Exhibition and Elements explains: “When I joined Montgomery in 2014 and took over the running of the W Exhibition, the first thing I did was go out and speak with the industry. Unanimously, there was one area that exhibitors and visitors alike wanted to hear more about – apprenticeships. It quickly became apparent that apprenticeships were vital for this industry but people were left feeling baffled by jargon and lots of questions were being left unanswered. Where do you find the talent? How do you pay for this talent? And more importantly, how do you retain that talent?
“We’ve addressed this problem and this September, the W Exhibition and Elements will be launching its first Education Zone. With the support of our show partners – Didac Limited, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and the National Association of Shopfitters – we will be introducing an area within the exhibition that will be specifically dedicated to apprenticeships and careers within the furniture and joinery manufacturing industries. Whether you’re an employer looking to offer an apprenticeship, an employee looking for your next step in the industry or a student who is interested in the sector, industry specialists, career advisers and business gurus will be on hand to answer questions and offer sound advice.”
Taking part in the Education Zone, BWF’s Iain Mcllwee says, “It is critical that we do everything we can to promote apprenticeships in the woodworking sector. The industry relies heavily on a skilled workforce, with apprenticeship figures around seven times higher than the national average. The introduction of a dedicated careers area means that we can help to support the industry, highlight the benefits of working with young talent and promote the importance of businesses engaging with students who are considering a role in this industry. It’s a fantastic opportunity and one the BWF are proud to be a part of.”
The W Exhibition and Elements will be taking place from the 30 September – 3 October 2018 at the NEC Birmingham. For more information visit: www.wexhibition.co.uk
To view this article in ST Mag, visit: ST Mag Summer Issue
